Rubber plants are a popular indoor plant due to their attractive foliage and easy maintenance. However, like any other plant, they require some care to thrive. One of the most important aspects of rubber plant care is pruning.
Pruning is essential for maintaining the shape and size of the plant, removing dead or damaged leaves, promoting new growth, and preventing disease or pests. In this blog post, we will discuss how to prune a rubber plant step-by-step.
When should you prune your rubber plant?
Rubber plants can be pruned at any time throughout the year but spring and summer are considered ideal times as it’s when they experience active growth. Pruning during winter may lead to stunted growth or damage as it’s dormant during that period.
Tools required for pruning:
Before starting with pruning your rubber tree make sure that you have all the necessary tools handy such as:
1) A pair of sharp garden scissors
2) Clean cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol
Step 1 – Identify what needs pruning
The first step in pruning a rubber tree is identifying which parts need trimming off. This includes dead stems/branches/leaves or those showing signs of disease or pest infestation; these can easily spread to healthy portions if left unchecked for too long.
Step 2 – Remove damaged leaves
Carefully examine your Rubber Plant from top to bottom so that you don’t miss out on anything while cleaning up dead branches/stems/leaves using clean gardening scissors. Start by removing yellowing/damaged leaves near the base where they meet with stem/trunk making sure not to accidentally cut into other areas as this could cause further damage.
Step 3 – Cut back overgrown stems
If there are any overgrown stems on your Rubber Plant then it’s best practice trim them back until they reach an appropriate length (usually about half its original size). Use sharp garden shears when cutting through thick woody branches since blunt tools can cause unnecessary damage.
Step 4 – Add a coat of rubbing alcohol
After pruning your rubber plant make sure to clean the scissors with a clean cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. This prevents any potential diseases or pests from spreading to other plants, as well as helps promote faster healing/recovery on cut branches/stems/leaves.
Step 5 – Water and feed your Rubber Plant
Once you’ve finished pruning your rubber tree give it some water and nutrients to help support its growth. Rubber Plants are particularly fond of rich organic soil that’s kept moist but not soaked, so ensure that you only water when the topsoil is dry (about once every week or two).
Conclusion:
Pruning a rubber plant may seem daunting at first, but with practice and experience, one would easily pick up the necessary techniques. The most important thing to keep in mind while doing this is taking care not to over-prune since this could lead to stunted growth or even death if too much foliage is removed at once! Pruning should be done judiciously and regularly for best results.
